---
title: "How can technology help people overcome barriers to accessing key online services?"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000811725"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000811725"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000811725.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000811725.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT"
published: "2025-10-01"
---

# How can technology help people overcome barriers to accessing key online services?

Buyer: SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000811725

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## Summary

The Scottish Government has initiated an open procurement process for a tender titled "How can technology help people overcome barriers to accessing key online services?" This contract seeks innovative technological solutions to improve digital inclusivity across services such as finance, education, and employment by addressing the challenges faced by individuals with low digital skills or limited access to necessary devices. With a substantial budget of £1,000,000 GBP, this service procurement falls within the general public services category. The contracting process is currently in the tender stage, having started on 1st October 2025, with the submission deadline set for 29th October 2025 at 12:00. Proposals are to be submitted electronically, and the contract win could contribute to meaningful improvements in public sector services across the UK.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in technology and digital services, particularly those with a focus on user-centred design and innovative product development. Startups and established companies alike can benefit from engaging in this project not only through potential financial gain but also by building a portfolio demonstrating capability in providing solutions to complex socio-digital challenges. The open procedure allows for a broad range of participants, making it ideal for agile companies capable of producing high-quality technological interventions. Moreover, the success of this project could lead to further opportunities within the Scottish public sector and potentially abroad, given the universal nature of the problems being addressed through the CivTech initiative.

## Notice

Despite the success of programmes such as Connecting Scotland, many individuals still struggle to access essential services because of low digital skills, limited confidence, or a lack of access to devices and connectivity. This Challenge seeks innovative, user-centred solutions that focus on people who may have some access to devices or connectivity but face barriers in using digital services safely and effectively. Proposals should address varied user needs, helping individuals engage with services including financial tools, education and employment. Connectivity and devices matter - but skills and confidence are critical to unlocking meaningful digital inclusion.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

About CivTech CivTech's mission is to drive daring and innovation in the public sector by collaboratively solving Challenges that make people's lives better - and in doing so create generations of sustainable, high growth businesses. CivTech brings together public sector expertise and private sector innovation to solve real problems, develop new products, and deliver better, faster and easier services for everyone. Central to the approach is co-production with the citizen. Part of the Scottish Government's Digital Directorate, CivTech's approach is helping transform public sector engagement with tech and innovation, delivering significant benefits to public services, producing genuine uplifts for the Scottish economy - and along the way, making lives better. Across the country there are problems public sector organisations would like to solve and in the current environment the need for smart, efficient and effective products has never been greater. The Scottish Government is aware innovation is a good way to create them and is committed to ensuring a large part of its tech spend goes to innovative businesses - whatever stage they're at, or size they are.. This is where CivTech comes in. The CivTech Innovation Flow is designed to create products as quickly and effectively as possible, and uses a true Accelerator model at the heart of its Innovation Flow model. For you - whether you're an individual, team or company - it's an opportunity to take on a Challenge, solve it, and win contracts with a blue-chip public sector organisation. You'll build a product, and a business to take it as far as possible. Because here's the kicker: the Challenges we issue aren't 'single organisation' problems - most of the problems we are solving exist worldwide. In short: Open Challenges are set. Any organisation, team or individual can respond. Applications are assessed, and shortlisted proposals go into an Exploration Stage where they're developed further together with the Challenge Sponsor and the CivTech [for which participating applicants are paid]. The best go through to the Accelerator - a period of intensive work to create the solution, and through CivTech's unique business growth workshop system, a business capable of taking the product to the world. Please visit our website for information on CivTech and how to get involved: https://www.civtech.scot/civtech-11-challenge-9-overcoming-barriers-to-accessing-key-online-services https://www.civtech.scot/how-to-apply-civtech-11

Renewal: This contract can be extended if required

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT540356 |
| Notice type | OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 1 Oct 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 29 Oct 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £1,000,000 |
| Lots value | £1,000,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Active |
| Lots status | Active |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT |
| Locality | ABERDEEN |
| Post town | Aberdeen |
| Postcode | AB11 9DB |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM5 North Eastern Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM50 Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire |
| Local authority | Aberdeen City |
| Electoral ward | Torry/Ferryhill |
| Westminster constituency | Aberdeen South |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 30 - Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies except furniture and software packages
- 48 - Software package and information systems
- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 75 - Administration, defence and social security services
- 80 - Education and training services

### Codes

- 30000000 - Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies except furniture and software packages
- 48740000 - Foreign language translation software package
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 72600000 - Computer support and consultancy services
- 75000000 - Administration, defence and social security services
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 80400000 - Adult and other education services

## Release History

- 1 Oct 2025 at 00:00 - Tender - OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT540356

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT540356
  How can technology help people overcome barriers to accessing key online services? - Despite the success of programmes such as Connecting Scotland, many individuals still struggle to access essential services because of low digital skills, limited confidence, or a lack of access to devices and connectivity. This Challenge seeks innovative, user-centred solutions that focus on people who may have some access to devices or connectivity but face barriers in using digital services safely and effectively. Proposals should address varied user needs, helping individuals engage with services including financial tools, education and employment. Connectivity and devices matter - but skills and confidence are critical to unlocking meaningful digital inclusion.

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=811725
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx
- http://www.scotland.gov.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000811725
- https://www.civtech.scot/civtech-11-challenge-9-overcoming-barriers-to-accessing-key-online-services
- https://www.civtech.scot/how-to-apply-civtech-11
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA10482

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000811725. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000811725.json.